Quilted Sewing Machine Cover – Tutorial

Before Christmas I made this sewing machine cover – I think it’s one of my favourite projects to date.

I needed one as I don’t like using the hard cover that came with my sewing machine. I couldn’t find a tutorial I liked, so I made this up as I went along. I was so engrossed that I didn’t take many photos of the step by step process. It’s really easy, so I’ll explain how I made it.

This diagram is the exact layout (including the colours of my charm squares!) that I used. You need to cut 4 side panel pieces (2 for exterior, 2 for lining) and cut a piece of lining the same size as the charm square panel.

How to make the Quilted Sewing Machine Cover:

1. Sew the charms together according to the diagram above, back with a piece of batting the same size, and quilt as desired. I quilted diagonally through the squares.

2. Back the side panels with batting and quilt as desired.

3. Sew the side panels at the seam across the middle of the charm panel, with right sides together. When you lay it out, it will look like the diagram above.

4. Pin the side panel to the charm square panel. You will have the shape of the cover. Stitch up the sides.

5. Sew the lining pieces the same way.

6. Place the lining inside the exterior piece, wrong sides together.

7. Pin bias binding in place around raw edge, and stitch in place.

Finished!

Fabric details: My charm squares were from a pack of Half Moon Modern by Moda (now sadly out of print) which was a gift to me in a swap. I only used the charms in the aqua, red and grey colours. I love the scissors print – it suits this project so well! My lining and side panels are Riley Blake Chevrons in aqua.

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This is fantastic! Thanks. I was just thinking yesterday about making a cover for my machine and for the overlocker that I'm hoping my hubby will be getting me for my birthday next month! Love your fabric combos.

oh i should make one of these for my machine and another for my serger. i don't like the hard plastic case that came with my machine because i have to take the thread off in order for it to fit on. and i like just leaving the thread in. my serger came with a soft plastic cover, which is just plain. i just need to pick some fabric…

This is so pretty. I love the fabrics you used. Thanks for the tutorial. I have been using the plastic one that came with my machine. I have literally had no time to make something for myself. This looks easy enough to make in a weekend.

It's gorgeous! I've seen a lot of covers around, but most have tie-sides and I can't help thinking that renders them useless, the dust can still get in! I love this style that you've made and my cover is the same shape

I'm here through Pam's blog, from Threading My Way, I saw the cover that was featured, and came to see the tutorial, it's something I'm going to try to do. I love your cover! thanks for the tutorial. I hope you do not mind I pinned this project to have it for future reference. I am a follower of yours for a while, would have to come more often to leave comments to you because I really like your blog. I'll leave the link to my blog if you want to visit me.Marisa fromhttp://passionetcouture.blogspot.ca/

My grandson has asked me to make a cover for his electric guitar speaker . This gives me an idea of how to do it, just with different measurements. And of course nothing cutesy for fabric. I just need to figure out the measurements. Thanks for a great idea.

I've had this bookmarked since you posted, and have finally managed to get around to it, but have only finished the outside. I'm still deciding on the lining. It's just for me, but "I" want to be happy. 🙂 The instructions are perfect!

I've been saving this tutorial since it came out, which was about the same time as I got my new machine, but I'm finally making a pretty cover now! You mentioned a cover for your overlock machine … I have one of those too. Is there a tutorial coming for that? I really don't know how to cover up the wire thread support on the top. What kind of a design shall we use? 🙂 Thanks for your wonderful inspiration!

this is great! I have a pack of sunnyside (moda) charms I have been wondering what to do with! I bet I can get two covers out of it if I add a border at the bottom. One for sewer and one for serger! woot!

I am a novice at sewing (I have made several rag quilts, though) and really want to make this machine cover. Yours is delightful!

I'm not sure I'm understanding #5, the lining pieces. Could you please provide exact details as to how to attach this lining materail to the other pieces? And do we also make stitches through that piece, to give it the quilted look? (Not sure how that would be done).

Can we "sandwich: the pieces together? (Such as in rag quilting) Though I'm thinking your way may be quicker and easier…I'm just not understanding exactly how to do it.

We are teaching the girls at Church on Wednesday nights to sew. We have several sewing machines and this will be a great project for the girls to make. And they will make our sewing area much neater looking. We are lucky to have a space to ourselves that we can leave the machines on the tables instead of packing them away each time.

Thanks for the great pattern. I am going to use this as a "baseline" for my Janome 8900. I have the thread rack attached, and want to build a "2nd floor" on the cover to accomdate the post that sticks up.

Thanks for ones marvelous posting! I really enjoyed reading it, you could be a great author.I will make certain to bookmark your blog and definitely will come back very soon. I want to encourage that you continue your great posts, have a nice day!

I will make this for my daughter. She needs something to cover her Janome manual machine (she lives off the grid) so that little fingers (2 year old grandson) will stop trying to play with the machine. I plan to sew 4 ties on to this so she can tie it beneath the sewing table. Thanks for the tutorial!

You didnt mention anything about seam allowances. Im new to sewing. Its beautiful. I hate the ugly utilitarian cover that came with my singer that I love. Woukd like to make mine inred, black and white.

Your pattern is great! I used it last year to make a cover for my machine and everyone always comments on how much they like it. I made some for friends and they love them too. Now I’m starting to sell some of the things I sew and was wondering if I have your permission to use this pattern to make my own covers to sell. I also bought the book Sewing to Sell and I want to make sure I cover my bases and have your permission.

Hi Marina, thanks so much for your message. I’m really glad the tutorial has been a great success for you.

You are welcome to sell your covers on a small scale. If you choose to sell on an online platform such as Etsy, I’d really appreciate it if you could credit me as the designer of the pattern in the description.

This is sweet. I like the fabrics you used & think it would be really pretty in Christmas fabrics. It seems like sewing with Christmas fabrics leaves me with lots of smallish pieces that can be used in projects like this one. Thanks for sharing this.

Hey ladies , what is an “over locker” haven’t heard that word.
I made this sewing this sewing machine cover for myself and when I bought my grand daughter her own machine for Christmas I then made her a cover to teach her to always keep it covered and ready to use. Love it

I’m very new to sewing and quilting, so forgive me if this is a stupid question. If I’m reading the instructions right, you don’t make a sandwich with the charms, batting, and liner…only the charms and batting? Then the liner is separate?

Thanks so much! I just finished this and love it, I’d post a picture if I knew how. Although I wonder, is there a reason why you wouldn’t be able to construct it like a quilt with all three layers instead of doing the inner layer separately? I’m thinking of making a few more covers for a few appliances and that would make it go more quickly. Thanks!

Feel free to post a picture to my wall on my facebook page – http://www.facebook.com/sewdeliciousblog
You could certainly construct it with 3 layers but then you would have exposed seams on the inside from attaching the side pieces. If that doesn’t bother you then go for it! Glad the tutorial worked well for you Ellie 🙂

I have just started sewing a few clothing pieces for my toddler but after listening to some great podcasts and coming across your blog I feel this urge to take the plunge into some quilting and this looks like a great little project 🙂

I am excited to make this sewing machine cover. I am a beginner so I think this will be a good project for me. I just wanted to confirm that when I sew the lining inside, the only place the lining will be sewn on the inside is the area of the bias binding? I just wanted to make sure I was reading the instructions correctly. Thanks!

Hi Katrina, yes that’s correct. You’ll find the lining sticks naturally to the batting anyway so it doesn’t fall down or lose shape. Good luck with it, feel free to email if you have anymore questions xx